Cultivator



A. L. ELLEDGE.

CULTIVATOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23| 1921'- 1407647, Patented Feb. 2l,1922.

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CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25,1921. 1,407,647., Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2. vw n) A. L. ELLEDGE.

CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 23,1921. 1,407,647 Patented Feb. 2L i922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ATTOFIN EY WITNESS A'. L. ELLEDGE.

CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1921:. l ,QBQ' lanted Feb. 21, 1922.

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY WlTNSl j it ARTHUR LEONARD ELLEDGE, F DUNCAN, ARIZNA.

CULTIVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, i922.

Application filed February 23, '1921. Serial No. 447,025.

To al?, fin/tom t muy concern:

Be it known that l, ARTHUR L. ELLEDGE, a citizen of the `United States,residing at Duncan, in the county of Greenlee andState of Arizona, haveinvented new and useful are employed and motion imparted thereto forcutting` weeds between rows of plants, and the said knives halted from`movement and sustained out of contact with the plants when passing saidplants.

lt is a further. obj ect to produce a hoeing and thinning cultivator inwhich right an-l gularly arranged'cutting knives are carried by `spacedshafts mounted on a wheeled body and revolved upon the turning of thewheels p ofthe body, means being provided for haltingor preventing theturning of the shafts and knives at determined intervals, whereby theknives may operate to cut foreign growths between rows of corn or thelike-and the knives be arranged to receive therebetween but in Contacttherewith the stalks of the plants, when the wheeled body moves past theplants., means being provided for swinging the knives to inactiveposition against their shafts, while also means is provided for holdingthe shafts against turning when the wheeled body is in motion.

The foregoing objects, and others which will appear as the nature oftheinvention is better understood, may be accomplished by aconstruction, combination and operative arrangement of parts such as isdisclosed by the drawings which accompany and which form part of thisapplication.

ln the drawings* Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a hoeing and thinningcultivator in accordance with this invention. i

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view approximately `on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4l is a sectionalview approximately on the line /l-l of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a sectional view approximately on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure G is a sectional view approximately on the line 6 6 of Figure 3.

kllVhile my improved hoeing and thinning means maybe attached t0 theframe of an ordinary cultivator, I have shown the same in theaccompanying drawings as a complete machine.

The improvement includes a frame on which is supported in suitablebearings a revolvable axle 1 to the ends of which ground wheels 2 aresecured. From the frame there projects a tongue pole 3 provided with adouble tree a carrying single trees 5, to which the draft animals arehitched. Brace men bers 6 are arranged between the sides of the tongueor pole 3, and suitable collars 7 on the axle 1 adjacent to the innerends of the hubs of the ground wheels.

On the frame, above the axle 1, I securea rectangular box like lcasing 8that supports the elements for operatingthe knives.

Extending angularly from the frame lare bars 9 on which rests an arcuatebar 10. The bars 9 are preferably pivoted to the frame, andthe arcuatebar 10 has apertures adjacent to its ends through certain of which passelements 10 that adjustably attach the bar 10 to the bar 9. On the bar10 the seat 12 for the driver is arranged.

On the axle 1, adjacent to one of the ground wheels 2 and at one of theends of the box like casing 8, there is a loosely nii'ninted wheel 1?that has its inner face provided with spaced projecting lodes formingcam surfaces 14C. The wheel has its opposite faces formed with a hub 15that has a clutch surface 16 which is designed to be engaged by aclutchmember 17, slidably splined on the axle 1 and movable by asuitable lever 18.

Passing through suitable bearing openings Vin the -box S are verticallydisposed knife carrying shafts 19 and 2O respectively. The

shafts, for the major portion of their length are squared in crosssection and the said squared portions pass through squared centralopenings in toothed wheels 21 and 22 respectively. VThe toothed wheelsmay have their hubs contacting with the upper and lower walls of thebox, or the said hubs may have race ways therein for anti-fri'ctionalbars that engage race wheels in the top and bottom walls of the box. Thewheels are v pivotally connected with an angularly dis posed rod 30.Between the rods 27 and 30 there is a helical spring 31. The free endofthe rod 30 is rounded uponV itself to provide Va hook 32 that engageswith the Vteeth of the ratchet wheel 25. It will be apparent that whenthe ground wheels revolve the axle 1 and the cam wheel 13, the roller 26being forced out of the grooves between the lcams and against thepointed outer ends of the said cams, will swing the rod 27 on itsfulcrum 28 and draw on the rod 30, to cause the hooked end 32 thereof toturn the ratchet wheel 25, consequently the wheel 22, the idlers 23 and24, the wheel 21 and the knife p shafts 19 and 20, will be turnedone-fourth of a revolution. lThe arrangement ofv the gears on the shaftand the idler gears there- Vbetween causes the shafts to turn inopposite directions, and consequently impart alike motion to the kniveswhich are mounted on theshafts.

It is important that the shafts be held from accidental' turning, exceptat desired and predetermined intervals. Such inter vals are determinedby arranging Von the shaft 1 different sized wheels 13 having cams 14varying in lengths and widths, the said wheels being preferablyconstructed in two sections soas to render thesame interchangeable. Toprevent the accidental turning of the shafts 19 and 20, l have arrangedon the upper face of the toothed wheel 21 equi-distantly spaced lugs 33.Contacting with the roller 26 is a second roller 34. Connected to thisroller is'a crank arm 35 that has one of its straight portions journaledin a bearing 35 and its second straight portion loosely received in aguide 36. The outer end of the crank member 35 is offset to provide acontact element 37; the rod is influenced by a spring` to hold theroller 34 against the roller 26 and the contact element on the endv ofthe rod out of engagement with the lugs 33. Thus when the cam wheel 13forces the roller 26' outwardly the said roller will influence theVcontact or stop means will vbring the latandV that the said knives arer4arranged atV right angles with' respect to each other. Thus the spacebetween the knives provide a passage for the growth to be leftstanding,while weeds orlother vegetation between the standing plants will be cutby the knives. The knives thus serve as both cutting and hoeing, and notonly foreign-growths are removed thereby but the rows of plants mayberoperly thinned. Y Y Y n each of the shafts 19 and 20,.above thesleeves 37 are collars 39'having loosely pivoted thereto dependingangularly 'ar-V ranged links-40, one of suchl links being looselyconnected with the respective knives 38. Y i x The shafts 19 and 20' aresustained in spaced `relation by an arched brace 43l that has acentralportion securedto thefraine of the machine and has suitable' collars orsleeves that lreceive the vshafts therethrough.

To each of the collars'39`there` is connected f vDepending from thecollar 47 isa finger 51 that passes through an openingin thel hub of thelever 49. Thus the lever may be revolved Varound the shafts 20, and insuch movement will draw on the flexible element which will move thecollars upward on the shafts, 'drawing on the links .40 to cause theknives 38 to fold against the shafts. This is desirable when the machineis being transported or whennot required 'for use.

,lhen it is desired to manually operate the knives to either miss or cutirregular plants. the following means is employed. Pivcted in the box isa two-arm lever 52. VThe sec-V tions comprising vthe lever are pivotallyasso# ciated, and on the outeror free arm or secv tion of thel leversthere ,is pivoted a dog Vor hook 52 that is spring influenced toenga-gt` the teeth of the'ratchetwheel 25. f The arms of the lever 52are swung-toward each vother by a spring 54, and the pivoted arm ofthe'lever is swung in the direction of the ratchet wheel by a spring 55.`To the free end of the last mentioned arm of the lever there isconnected a cable 56. This cable is trained around 'a pulley 57journaled adjacent to the toothed wheel 21, and over the guide 5S to alever 59 and to a foot pedal 60. A pull on the cable, eitherby anoperation of the lever 59 or the pedal 60 will cause the said cable tofirst raise the stop rodin its guide 36 to bring the same out of thepath of engagement with the lugs 33 on the wheel 2l, and then to draw onthe jointed lever 52, to swing the same on its pivot to cause the dog orhook 53 to turn the ratchet wheel 25 which turns the shaft 20, andthrough the medium of the toothed wheel 22, revolves the gears 23 and24, causing the latter to rotate the wheel 22, and consequently revolvethe shaft 19, thus causing the shafts to operate the knives.

To raise or lower the knives and the shafts 19 and 20, I provide a bar61 that has its ends provided with openings for the shafts 19 and 20.Contacting with the opposite faces of the bar are compensating springs62 and 68 respectively. On each of the shafts 19 and 20 there is securedpreferably adjustable means 64 and 65 respectively which receivethereagainst the ends of the compensating springs 62 and 63. On theframe or on the Vbox there is an upstanding element or standard 66 towhich is pivoted a lever 67. This lever has a yoke 68 that receivestherethrough the bar 6l. lt is evident that by swinging the lever ineither direction the shafts and the elements carried thereby will bemoved vertically. The springs release the shafts from being directlyinfluenced by the rod or lever so that the said shafts may freely turnthe wheel by which the lever is operated. The lever has an offsetportion or toothed standard that is designed to engagev with a rack 70so that the shafts are thus sustained adjusted.

It isbelieved that the foregoing description, when taken in connectionwith the drawings will make clear to those skilled in the art to whichthis invention relates the construction and operation thereon, and`while I have shown and described a satisfactory embodiment of theimprovement as it now appears to me, it is to be understood that l amentitled to all such changes there- :from as fall within the scope of myclaims.

What l claim is:

l. A wheeled frame, knives carried thereby, means actuated by the wheelsof the frame for operating the knives and means for preventing' suchoperation of the knives except at predetermined intervals. j

2. A wheeled frame, knives carried thereby, each including opposed rightangularly arranged cutting elements, means actuated by the turning ofthe wheels for revolving the knives, and means for preventing theturning of the knives except at predetermined intervals.

3. ln a device for the purposeset forth, cooperating knives, means forrevolving the knives in Vopposite directions toward each other, andmeans for preventing such operation at determined intervals.

4. A wheeled frame, vertically disposed shafts carried thereby, kniveson the lower ends of said shafts each comprising right angularlydisposed. cutting blades, means actuated by the turning of the wheelsfor revolving the shafts and knives, and means for holding the shaftsagainst turning except at predetermined intervals.

5. A wheeled frame, vertically disposed shafts carried thereby, kniveson the lower ends of the shafts, each comprising right angularlyarranged cutting blades, means 'actuated by the turning of the-wheelsfor revolving the shafts and knives, means for preventing the turning ofthe shafts eX- cept at predetermined intervals, and means for adjustingthe shafts vertically on the frame. l

6. A wheeled frame, vertically disposed shafts carried thereby,horizontally disposed knives on the lower ends of the shafts, meansactuated by the turning of the wheels, for revolving the shafts andknives, means preventing the turning ofthe shafts except atpredetermined intervals, means for vertically adjusting` the shafts andknives, and means for. folding the knives against the shafts.

7. A wheeled frame, vertically arranged shafts carried thereby,horizontally d isposed knives on the lower ends of the shafts, bracemeans between the knives and shafts, means actuated by the turning ofthe wheels for revolving the shafts and knives, means preventing theturning of the shafts except at predetermined intervals, means forvertically adjusting the shafts and knives, and means for influencingthe braces of the knives to move the latter on the shafts to cause theswinging of the knives against said shafts.

8. A wheeled frame, cooperating knives supported thereon, eachcomprising horizontally arranged right angularly disposed cuttingblades, means for adjusting the knives vertically with respect to theframe, means actuated by the turning of the wheels for revolving theknives at predetermined intervals, means preventing` turning of theknives except at such predetermined intervals, and manually operatedmeans for rendering inactive the last mentioned means and for turningthe knives independently of the wheel actuated means.

9. A wheeled frame, a wheel having one of its 4faces Vprovided withspaced lodes forming cams freely mounted on the axle thereof, clutchmeans for locking the means to the axleT vertically arranged adjustableshafts journaled on. the frame7 toothed wheels keyed thereon and throughwhich theshafts are vertioallyvmovable, toothed l idlers between saidfirstmentioned Wheels,

a ratchet Wheel secured to one of the first mentioned wheels7 lugs onthe'other rst mentioned Wheel, pivotally connected members, onefulerumed on the frame and the otherv having la hooked end engaging theratchet, spring means therebetween, a roller on the first mentionedniember normally received between the lodes of the cam Wheel, a springinfluenced stop rod having a roller engaging the first mentioned rollerdesigned to be brought opposite the mentioned lugs on one of the toothedWheels for holding the wheels against turning when the cam Wheel androrller engaged therewith are in one position7 spring influenced cableoperated means also'engaging the ratchet wheel and disposed to bring thestop rod out of lug engaging position, knives onthe lower ends of theshafts each Comprising right angular blades'7 and means for swinging theblades against the shafts. Y Y Y n testimony whereof l' aliix mysignature.

ARTHUR LEONARD ELLEDGE.

